Deckhand Oyster Bar & Seafood — Restaurant in Round Rock

Warning! This is not a seafood restaurant. It is an Asian restaurant that sales only seafood.

I wish I could give negative stars, but by default, I have to give at least one.

The wife and I walked past the outside seating and into the restaurant. We stood at the hostess stand a few minutes without anyone on the other side. There was a few employees who passed us and didn't seem to be interested in us standing there with confused looks on our faces.

Finally, a young lady come to the other sidee of the counter, but she was a little preoccupied to even acknowledge us. After she was done with what ever she was doing, she finally looked at me and asked if she can help us.

Me: We'd like a table for two outside. Hostess: We don't have any open tables outside. Me: We just walked by and saw several open tables. Hostess: Those tables are not cleaned off. Me: How long will the wait be? Hostess: About 10 to 15 minutes. Do you want to wait? Me: If that's what it takes.

We waited about two minutes and we're seated outside. It took 8 minutes for our waitress to come to our table. During which time the table next to is were seated after us and already ordered their drinks.

We ordered drinks, the gulf shrimp cocktail as an apatizer, the K-bobs, and the drunken sailor all while the waitress was writing on a tablet. The waitress came back a few minutes later and asked what we ordered as an apatizer. Very strange.

The shrimp cocktail came quickly, within minutes. My drunken sailor came about two minutes later. Both being delivered by not our waitress. No K-bobs.

About 15 minutes later, the waitress came by and asked if everything was okay. I told her my wife has not gotten her food yet. The waitress said she'll go check on it and, "Just to let you know everything doesn't come out at the same time."

About 15 minutes later, I was about finished, and my wife was frustrated and said at this point she doesn't even want the food. I flagged a bus boy down to ask for our waitress. Right then, our waitress came with my wife's food. As she approached the tabke, I told her my wife don't want it anymore.

The waitress without missing a beat said okay and just walked off. We had to ask the waiter for the table next to us if he could get a manager.

The manager arrived. We explained our frustrations. The manager apologized and explained how he needs to retrain his staff and kitchen. He further explained how his kitchen has a bad habit of poor timing. He promised he will address the problems to his staff. He gave us a to go box for my food and the apatizer and brought us the bill. We never saw our waitress again.

The food was not as expected. We thought we went to a seafood restaurant. It was actually an Asian restaurant that serves seafood asian style. So, the food was not what we expected. Not even close. But, it was really good. Actually, I was surprised how good it was from what I got and what I expected.

The manager gave us a $20 gift card for our next visit. I paid my bill with no tip because one was not deserving. I gave the $20 gift card to the table next to us because we have no intentions of returning. We walked out.

Then, the most odd thing happened. The manager followed us into the parking lot. I was in my truck. He approached the driver side just as I was about to pull out. He gave me his business card and told us to let him know the next time we're here. I thought it was very strange and felt slightly violated that he followed us into the parking lot. My wife said it was very inappropriate.

Overall, we will not be going back. Nor do we recommend anyone dining at...

This for me, is a painful review and I will explain.

Having driven by Deckhand more than 100 times and wondering about the place, I read the reviews and my wife and I decided to give it a try. We saw the food was highly rated, cold beer and economically priced. Walked and the first thing you see is a massive bar then dining area directly behind it. Eclectic setting but quaint in a way.

Rating on the food alone I would go 4.5 or 5 stars. We ordered the JT Boudin...excellent appetizer. I had the LaFrontera Tilapia...excellent!

The service tonight I gave at best 2 stars. Everything started normal to what you would expect. Told our server that this was our first time here, got some recommendations and ordered. First time to a new place, there will be many questions and indecisesiveness. The team brought the appetizer which was great...we then received the entrees. My wife ordered the Crying Phoenix with shrimp. While the meal was not bad, she is allergic to raw tomatoes and was not aware they were in the dish. We asked to get my wife the same dish I had, tomatoes somewhat cooked...so it was ok. Told the waitress no credit was needed, not to worry, we would take the first dish home.

From there the service really got bad. After a period that was more than twice the time of our original order, I got up and found our waitress entering another order. I told her we didn't have our order and I was thinking it would be a rush order. Her remark was surprise that the food was not delivered yet. Now I had seen her wait on 3 to 4 tables all around us and not once did she check on us after putting in the replacement food order. She brought the dish in a couple of minutes....no apology for the delay or your common courtesy to ask if all was ok. The next time we saw her she brought the check....said nothing, she bagged the take home, no comments, didn't ask if we wanted dessert. I paid, did the standard 15% on food cost only, not taxes and we politely left. I left a note and my cell phone number on the check.

It's bad to get treated this way on your first time to a place, we will likely go back, I saw and watched other folks waiting diligently on their tables...all smiles. I even saw out waitress smiling at...

If you’re looking for a spot that nails a Cajun-style seafood boil, Deckhand Oyster Bar and Seafood is the place to go. My recent visit here was an absolute delight, and I can’t wait to share the details!

The Food: 10/10 We ordered the 2 LB crawfish boil for three people, and it was phenomenal. The crawfish were juicy, perfectly spiced, and packed with flavor. The boil came with mushrooms, corn, and potatoes, and we added shrimp to the mix—everything was cooked to perfection. The seasoning was just right, not too overpowering but flavorful enough to keep us reaching for more.

We also tried the fried shrimp, which were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the wings, which were surprisingly some of the best I’ve had—juicy, well-seasoned, and cooked to a perfect golden crisp. Every bite was a reminder of why this place stands out.

The Service: 10/10 Our server was fantastic. Even though the crawfish boil took a little while to come out (which, honestly, is expected with fresh seafood), she kept us updated on the timing and made sure we were comfortable. She was also super friendly and gave us a great tip: March and April are the best months for crawfish! Thanks to her, we’re already planning a return trip in April.

The Atmosphere: 9/10 The restaurant has a laid-back, coastal vibe that makes you feel like you’re at a seafood shack by the beach. It’s casual and welcoming, perfect for a fun meal with friends or family. Plus, there’s plenty of parking, which is always a bonus.

Value for Money: 9/10 The portions were generous, and the quality of the food made it worth every penny. The crawfish boil was packed with flavor and ingredients, and the fried shrimp and wings were equally satisfying. It’s not the cheapest meal, but you definitely get what you pay for—and then some.

Final Thoughts Deckhand Oyster Bar and Seafood is a must-visit for anyone who loves Cajun-style seafood boils or just great seafood in general. The food is outstanding, the service is top-notch, and the vibe is relaxed and enjoyable. We’re already counting down the days until our next...